The Reef Casino Review

[Image Source: cairnsaccommodation.com]Queensland gamblers consider yourself lucky. As the only casino in Cairns, visitors to the Great Barrier Reef's gateway city will be spoiled by the level of class and fun found at The Reef Casino and hotel.

An important part of the city's ever-growing tourism industry, The Reef Casino's rise to Australian gambling prominence comes from its huge selection of table games and pokies as well as its award winning dining options. We reviewed The Reef Casino and hotel and discovered that it is more than worth the hype.

There are over 500 gaming slot machines to be discovered on the casino floor ranging from 1 cent to 1 dollar machines

Casino Gaming at The Reef

From the classics like roulette, baccarat, and blackjack to less common but no less exciting casino table games like sic-bo, paradise pontoon, or the money wheel, The Reef offers a table game for all visitors. There's also over 500 gaming slot machines to be discovered on the casino floor ranging from 1 cent to 1 dollar machines. Many of these are also linked via progressive jackpot, meaning the busier the casino is, the higher and higher the potential payouts go.

And no matter what day of the week you find yourself in The Reef, there's always an exciting promotion going on letting you get even more out of your gambling dollar. The bonuses are too many and change too frequently to list them all here, but some examples of past popular ones include the Cash Marathon, in which playing on a Thursday enters you for a chance to win $2,250 in cash all year long. Another is their double points promotion where playing any electronic gaming machine from 9am-11am any day of the week doubles up your accrued bonus program points.

The Hotel

The Reef Gambling at a Glance

Number of slots: 500+

Table games: 7+ varieties

Minimum age: 18

As soon as you step into the luxurious Pullman Reef Hotel Casino complex you'll agree that it is worth every one of its five stars. Given an illustrious Certificate of Excellence by TripAdvisor in 2015, its 128 rooms all come complete with views of the city and/or the Trinity Inlet and either a comfy king bed or two single beds. The even classier Pullman suites feature a separate lounge room with "plantation" shutters and a lavish bathroom.

In addition to the casino and restaurants, hotel guests also get access to the rooftop pool and sauna, as well as a gymnasium, connectivity lounge, and gift shops. During your stay you'll also get to explore the Cairns Wildlife Dome which houses a wide variety of tropical birds, reptiles, and other exotic animals inside a spacious natural setting.

Hits

Over 500 slots, including various progressives.

A wide range of promotions with cash prizes and extra points.

Common table games, as well as unique ones such as sic-bo and paradise pontoon offered.

Misses

There is no poker room at the Reef Casino.

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Other Amenities

The Reef offers four exquisite restaurants that each have a unique dining experience. Internationally acclaimed, the Peking Duck serves authentic Chinese and Hong Kong dishes to both Cairns visitors as well as its loyal local customer base. For something a little lighter, head on over to the Flinders Bar & Grill, the home of fresh deli-style favourites and decadent coffee. And for that extra special night out, award-winning fine dining is found in the Tamarind, as is a comprehensive wine list over 100 bottles deep.

And if wine isn't your particular poison, a bevy of other beverages can be found in one of the casino's other three bars. The Lihou Bar serves up craft cocktails and beer right in the midst of the gaming floor action. A similar drink selection can be found amongst a lively lounge atmosphere where live music takes from the stage Thursday through Sunday at the Vertigo Cocktail Bar & Lounge. For those who prefer sports over sound, the Casino Sports Arena is home to the largest LED screen in Queensland and other wall-to-wall TVs showing sport from around the country and the world.